Why should they not be asked ?" "Because nobody visits them." "And why should nobody visit them ?" The Treasurer put his arm confidentially through mine, and walked me on a few steps.
"In the first place," he said, "Doctor Dulcifer's name is not down in the Medical List." "Some mistake," I suggested, in my off-hand way.

"Or some foreign doctor's degree not recognized by the prejudiced people in England." "In the second place," continued the Treasurer, "we have found out that he is not visited at Barkingham.

Consequently, it would be the height of imprudence to visit him here." "Pooh! pooh! All the nonsense of narrow-minded people, because he lives a retired life, and is engaged in finding out chemical secrets which the ignorant public don't know how to appreciate." "The shutters are always up in the front top windows of his house at Barkingham," said the Treasurer, lowering his voice mysteriously.

"I know it from a friend resident near him.

The windows themselves are barred.